Around the System, Relief Pitching–Clearwater and Lakewood

Other Stuff

Clearwater

Victor Arano, 21, Acquired from Dodgers in 2014; 25 games, 2-1 with a 2.87ERA; 2SV; 47IP 41H 14BB 54K; .237 opp avg; 1.15WHIP; 0.72 GO/AO; 2.5BB/10.3K per 9; .226 vs LHH, .243 vs RHH, .254 opp avg last 30 days; Arano is one of the relievers that has really impressed this year after struggling in the rotation last year.

Jesen Therrien, 23, Phils 17th round pick in 2011; 20G, 1-2 with a 2.20ERA; 3SV; 26.2IP 17H 19BB 39K; .179 opp avg; 1.35 WHIP; 1.41 GO/AO; 6.4BB/13.2K per 9; .240 vs LHH, .157 vs RHH, .261 opp avg last 30 days; You rarely see an opponents average of .179 and a WHIP as high as 1.35 and that is because of Therrien’s significant control issues.  When/if he is able to significantly improve his command, the Phils may have something here.

Ulises Joaquin, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2010; 30 games between Reading and Clearwater with a 3.22ERA; 8SV; 44.2IP 38H 12BB 40K; .233 opp avg; 1.12 WHIP; 1.26 GO/AO; 2.4BB/8.1K per 9; For Clearwater: 2.13ERA; .188 opp avg; 0.92 WHIP; Joaquin was very poor for Reading early in the year and was sent back to Clearwater where his has been very good.

Matt Hockenberry, 24, Phils 9th round pick in 2014; 26G between Reading and Clearwater; 0-1 with a 1.89ERA; 38IP 24H 16BB 35K; .186 opp avg; 1.05WHIP; 0.75GO/AO; 3.8BB/8.3K per 9; For CW: 1.35ERA; .177 opp avg; 0.99 WHIP; Hockenberry has been called up to Reading on three separate occasions only to be sent back after 1 appearance each.  His performance deserves a prolonged look in AA.

Joey DeNato, 24, Phils 19th round pick in 2014; 24G; 2.92ERA; 37IP  31H 13BB 34K; .237 opp avg; 1.19 WHIP; 0.47 GO/AO; 3.2BB/8.3K per 9; .273 vs LHH, .224 vs RHH, .233 last 30 days; Denato has been consistently doing a good job this year, a step below his 2015 dominance at Lakewood. Continue reading Around the System, Relief Pitching–Clearwater and Lakewood →

Box Score Recap – 7/8/2016

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (51-38)  Beat Rochester, 3-1.  Ben Lively (4-2, 3.45) tossed six shutout innings to register his first victory since June 11th.  He allowed five hits and struck out four. Edward Mujica (3.69) gave up a solo HR while recording his 23rd save.  Darin Ruf (.287) had 3 hits.  Brock Stassi had 2 hits and and RBI (32).  Darnell Sweeney hit his 5th HR. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/8/2016 →

Box Score Recap – 7/7/2016

Box Score Recap

Lots of excitement in the GCL.  Mickey Moniak hit his first professional home run on the road in Lakeland.  Jhailyn Ortiz hit his third home run in four games.  Cole Stobbe got his first and second professional hits.  Ben Pelletier, playing in his first professional game, got his first hit AND scored 3 runs.  Moniak had a 4-RBI game.  Non-drafted free agent, Evan Rogers, hit his first professional home run, went 3-4, and had 6 RBI.  Ortiz had a 3-RBI game. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/7/2016 →

Box Score Recap – 7/6/2016

Box Score Recap

Mickey Moniak was not in the GCL line up today.  Nor did I see him around the Complex. However, Ray Burris was on an adjacent field watching Tom Windle throw a live batting practice.  Windle was recently placed on the DL with an ankle sprain.  The two batters he faced were Aaron Altherr and Mark Laird.  Both hitters are working their way through their on rehabs. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/6/2016 →

Box Score Recap – 7/5/2016

Box Score Recap

It appears that the Phillies may be finished signing 2016 draft picks.  Todd Zolecki reported that “The Phillies have signed 29 of 40 players selected in the 2016 Draft. They will exceed the allotted $13,405,200 in their bonus pool but by no more than five percent.” Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/5/2016 →

Around the System–Relief Pitching, Lehigh Valley and Reading

Other Stuff

Lehigh Valley

Elvis Arajuo, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2015; 3 games, 0-0 with a 4.15ERA; 4.1IP 3H 2ER 2BB 6K; After accruing a 5.87ERA and 1.91WHIP in 27 appearances with the Phillies, Arajuo was sent down to Lehigh Valley to gain command of his pitches.

Luis Garcia, 29, Signed as a free agent in 2013; 29 games, 6-1 with a 2.57ERA; 1SV; 35IP 24H 18BB 33K; .202 opp avg; 1.20WHIP; 2.37 GO/AO; 4.6BB/8.5K per 9; .167 vs LHH, .217 vs RHH, ,217 opp avg last 30 days; Garcia has thrown well for Lehigh Valley this year with the exception of a walk rate that is too high.

Frank Herrmann, 32, SIgned as a free agent in 2016; 15 games, 4-1 with a 2.45ERA; 18.1IP 15H 5BB 16K; .214 opp avg; 1.09WHIP; 0.50 GO/AO; 2.4BB/7.9K per 9; .130 vs LHH, .255 vs RHH, .152 last 30 days; Herrmann has thrown well this year after missing the firsy month plus injured.  His reverse splits are eye opening.

Phil Kline, 27, Signed off waivers in 2016; 12 games between AAA Round Rock and Lehigh Valley; 3.22ERA; 22.1IP 21H 7BB 19K; .241 opp avg; 1.25WHIP; 0.92 GO/AO; 2.8BB/7.7K per 9; .313 vs LHH, .200 vs RHH, .200 opp avg last 30 days; Picked up off waivers from Texas in early June, Klein has given Lehigh Valley solid bullpen depth with major league experience.

Michael Mariot, 27, SIgned as a free agent in 2015; 16 games with Lehigh Valley; 2.86ERA; 22IP 12H 9BB 14K; .162 opp avg; 0.95WHIP; 0.85 GO/AO; 3.7BB/5.7K per 9; .281 vs LHH, .071 vs RHH, .171 opp avg last month; .308 opp avg with RISP; Mariot missed the first portion of the season injured but has been extremely effective for Lehigh Valley without overpowering the opposition.

Edward Mujica, 32, Signed as a free agent in 2016; 34G, 3.65ERA; 21SV; 37IP 41H 3BB 26K; .273 opp avg; 1.19WHIP; 1.02 GO/AO; 0.7BB/6.3K per 9; .305 vs LHH, .253 vs RHH, .222 opp avg last month; 1.59ERA and 0.79 WHIP over last 10 games.  After two awful appearances to start the year, Mujica has been extremely consistent and leads the IL in saves,

Colton Murray, 26, Phils 13th round pick in 2011; 11G; 5.28ERA; 15.1IP 14H 6BB 18K; .241 opp avg; 1.30WHIP; 1.17 GO/AO; 3.5BB/10.6K per 9; .316 vs LHH, .205 vs RHH, .211 last 30 days; Murray was sent down two weeks ago from Philadelphia and has allowed 2ER in 5IP in his 5 games since arriving back in Allentown

Dailier Hinojosa, 30, Acquired off waivers from Red Sox in 2015; 5G; 1.80ERA; 5IP 3H 1ER 4K; Hinojosa was optioned to Lehigh Valley just last week after completing his rehab coming off his early season injury with the Phils.  He is a guy that showed quite a bit of promise late in the 2015 season with the Phils.

DL: Jimmy Cordero

Reading

Jeremy Bleich, 29, Signed as a free agent in 2016; 29G; 4.24ERA; 40.1IP, 49H 14BB 24K; .299 opp avg; 1.56 WHIP; 2.29 GO/AO; 3.1BB/5.3K per 9; .302 vs LHH, .306 vs RHH, .377 opp avg last 30 days; Bleich is an arm that is generally used to eat innings and isnt used in may high leverage situations.

Mario Hollands, 27, Phils 10th round pick in 2010; 14G between Lehigh Valley and Reading; 3.74ERA; 21.2IP 27H 7BB 18K; 2.9BB/7.5K per 9; 5.02ERA and 1.74 WHIP in last 10 appearances; It has been a challenge for Hollands in returning from his arm injury that cost him 2015.

Gregory Infante, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2016; 24G between LV and Reading; 3.24ERA; 41.2IP 37H 25BB 34K; .253 opp avg; 1.49 WHIP; 0.98 GO/AO; 5.4BB/7.3K per 9; Infante has been skating away without too much damage but his control caused his demotion to Reading and has not been much better with the Fightins.

Hoby Milner, 25, Phils 7th round pick in 2012; 28G; 1.62ERA; 39IP 27H 9BB 43K; .193 opp avg; 0.92whip; 1.18 GO/AO; 2.1BB/9.9K per 9; .192 vs LHH, .233 vs RHH, .255 opp avg last month; Milner has thrown very well this year, with a hiccup or two as of late.

Miguel Nunez, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2009; 30G between CW and Reading; 2.41ERA; 13SV; 33.2IP 26H 16BB 43K; .217 opp avg; 1.25 WHIP; 0.80 GO/AO; 4.3BB/11.5K per 9; .208 v LHH, .238 v RHH; .175 opp avg last 30 days; Nunez is progressing quite well with occasional control issues that need to be kept in check.  Projects in the back end of the Phils 2018 bullpen.

Alexis Rivero, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2012; 28G between CW and Reading; 2.87ERA; 6SV; 37.2IP 30H 12BB 40K; .214 opp avg; 1.12 WHIP; 0.95 GO/AO; 2.9BB/9.6K per 9; After 23 games for the Threshers where he had a microscopic 1.13ERA and .162 opp avg; Rivero was promoted to AA and has had all kinds of difficulties with the transition thus far. In 5 games with the Fightins, Rivero’s ERA is 12.71 and opponents are hitting well over .400 against him.

Joely Rodriguez, 23, Acquired from Pittsburgh in 2015; 31G between Clearwater and Reading; 1.77ERA; 4SV; 45.2IP 33H 13BB 44K; .213 opp avg; 1.01 WHIP; 2.57 GO/AO; 2.6BB/8.7K per 9; .186 vs LHH, .262 vs RHH, .214 opp avg last 30 days; Rodriguez continues his successful transformation into reliever having alot of success in Reading.  I expect him in Allentown soon.

DL: Tom Windle

Box Score Recap – 7/4/2016

Box Score Recap

The biggest news today was that Mickey Moniak was removed from the GCL game with a possible injury.  He left under his own power and seemed to be okay.  That story was covered in this report.  During the game, Kevin Gowdy threw live batting practice on adjacent Schmidt Field.  He did so under the watchful eye of Ray Burris.  One of the batters facing Gowdy was Roman Quinn, but I didn’t see him swing at any pitches.  Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/4/2016 →

Moniak Leaves GCL Game with Tightness

2. GCL

Mickey Moniak was removed from Monday’s game after beating a double play relay throw to first.  What looked like a routine play at the time, grew in significance when Manager Roly de Armas left the third base coaching box and trotted over to Moniak and Coach Delima at first.  De Armas beat the trainer to Moniak.  A pinch runner, Malvin Matos, had exited the dugout with the trainer. Continue reading Moniak Leaves GCL Game with Tightness →

Open Discussion: Week of July 4th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics.

The Phillies are 37-46.  They went 5-1 last week.  They book ended the week with wins by Vince Velasquez.  They averaged 7 runs a game while sweeping the Diamondbacks in Arizona.  Then they came home and took 2 of 3 from the World Champion Kansas City Royals.  The Phillies go into the All Star break with 3 games at home against the Atlanta Braves before going to Colorado for 4 games against the Rockies. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of July 4th →

Box Score Recap – 7/3/2016

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (48-36) Beat Charlotte, 8-7 in 13 innings.  The IronPigs scored single runs in the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings to tie the game and finally won on Nick Williams RBI single.  The ‘Pigs tied the game in the ninth on Cedric Hunter’s RBI single, and in the tenth on Logan Moore’s third home run.

Phil Klein was tabbed to start in place of James Russell.  Klein and Colton Murray gave up three runs each before the bullpen held the Knights to one run for the next nine innings. Brock Stassi got the win.  Hunter had a HR (6) and 4 RBI (31). Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/3/2016 →